Camp Spotlight: Cornerback Jamal Agnew

Tim Twentyman tracks the performance of cornerback Jamal Agnew during Day 14 of training camp practice.

JAMAL AGNEW

Position: Cornerback

Ht/Wt: 5-10, 190

College: San Diego

Experience: Rookie

Outlook: Agnew's quickest route to the field at this point is by winning the punt return job, which he currently looks to be leading. He got first crack at it in the preseason opener, and did a fine job. He was a little bummed after the game that he didn’t get more opportunities to return punts against the Colts. He got one return for seven yards and had three fair catches. The Lions value securing the ball, and not making a big mistake in the return game just as much as making a big return. Agnew had no issues there, so he passed his first test.

Defensively, Agnew’s speed certainly shows up on the field in terms of his closing speed on receivers. He had a couple plays in the joint practices in Indy where he was initially beat, but was able to close the gap and make a play because of his speed.

On special teams, Agnew has an opportunity to make an early name for himself. It’s similar to what safety Miles Killebrew went through last year. Killebrew contributed right away on special teams, then when he got an opportunity on defense, he ran with it.

Practice report: Agnew got a lot of good work in at practice Thursday.

In goal line one-on-one drills with the receivers, he matched up with both Kenny Golladay and Golden Tate. Golladay used his 6-foot-4 frame to muscle inside of Agnew at the goal line for a catch.

Agnew did much better against Tate. Tate tried a double move on Agnew, but he didn’t bite. Tate eventually worked some space between himself and Agnew in the back of the end zone, but in a real game situation, the route would have taken way too long to develop.

Agnew played with the second unit in 7-on-7 drills, and had a good rep deep against Marvin Jones Jr. that went incomplete.

All and all, it was a pretty nice day for Agnew.

Quotable: “It was great to get my feet wet a little bit,” Agnew said of his first preseason action. “It was a great atmosphere. I’m not used to playing around that. I have a lot of things to work on personally, and as a team.

“I think I’m strides from where I first came in. Definitely mentorship from the vets helped a lot. I’m just coming out here with the mindset to try and get better at something every day. I really take it personal when they say, ‘don’t make the same mistakes.’”